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Berlusconi Stakes a Claim for Relevance, but Avoids Threats Berlusconi Stakes a Claim for Relevance, but Avoids Threats
(about 1 hour later)
ROME — Ever the unpredictable showman, Silvio Berlusconi used a special televised address on Wednesday to defiantly stake a claim for a continued place at the heart of Italian politics. Perhaps, though, it was what he did not say that spoke loudest: not once did he discuss his party’s earlier threats to bring down Italy’s fragile coalition government.ROME — Ever the unpredictable showman, Silvio Berlusconi used a special televised address on Wednesday to defiantly stake a claim for a continued place at the heart of Italian politics. Perhaps, though, it was what he did not say that spoke loudest: not once did he discuss his party’s earlier threats to bring down Italy’s fragile coalition government.
For weeks Italy has hovered at the edge of a political crisis centered on Mr. Berlusconi, the powerful former prime minister whose center-right People of Freedom party is a crucial partner in the awkward coalition government. His loyalists had vowed to pull the party’s support for the government if a special parliamentary commission voted to expel Mr. Berlusconi from his current Senate seat because of his recent conviction for tax fraud.For weeks Italy has hovered at the edge of a political crisis centered on Mr. Berlusconi, the powerful former prime minister whose center-right People of Freedom party is a crucial partner in the awkward coalition government. His loyalists had vowed to pull the party’s support for the government if a special parliamentary commission voted to expel Mr. Berlusconi from his current Senate seat because of his recent conviction for tax fraud.
But with Italy mired in a prolonged recession, and European leaders warning that political instability in Rome could threaten the health of the entire 17-nation euro zone, Mr. Berlusconi released a taped video message on Wednesday evening, broadcast on Italian television, in which he never discussed withdrawing his support for the government — even as the parliamentary panel resumed deliberations on his fate shortly after the broadcast.But with Italy mired in a prolonged recession, and European leaders warning that political instability in Rome could threaten the health of the entire 17-nation euro zone, Mr. Berlusconi released a taped video message on Wednesday evening, broadcast on Italian television, in which he never discussed withdrawing his support for the government — even as the parliamentary panel resumed deliberations on his fate shortly after the broadcast.
“He has chosen not to bring down the government,” said Roberto D’Alimonte, a leading political analyst in Rome. “It is not in his interest.”“He has chosen not to bring down the government,” said Roberto D’Alimonte, a leading political analyst in Rome. “It is not in his interest.”
Mr. Berlusconi, a media mogul who has dominated Italian politics since the 1990s, also used his video address to restart the Forza Italia political party that first carried him to prominence.Mr. Berlusconi, a media mogul who has dominated Italian politics since the 1990s, also used his video address to restart the Forza Italia political party that first carried him to prominence.
He seemed to acknowledge the likelihood that in the coming weeks he will be stripped of office. “I will always be with you, at your side, expelled or not,” he said during the 16-minute address. “You can be in politics even without being in Parliament. It’s not the seat that makes a leader, but popular consensus.”He seemed to acknowledge the likelihood that in the coming weeks he will be stripped of office. “I will always be with you, at your side, expelled or not,” he said during the 16-minute address. “You can be in politics even without being in Parliament. It’s not the seat that makes a leader, but popular consensus.”
The release of the video followed 48 hours of swirling rumors about what Mr. Berlusconi might do before Wednesday’s evening meeting of the Senate panel, which concluded with a preliminary rejection of an appeal that he be allowed to remain in the Senate. The special commission is not likely to take final action until next month. The release of the video followed 48 hours of swirling rumors about what Mr. Berlusconi might do before Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Senate panel, which concluded with a preliminary rejection of an appeal that he be allowed to remain in the Senate. The special commission is not likely to take final action until next month.
Mr. Berlusconi’s political future has been uncertain since August, when Italy’s highest court upheld a conviction against him for tax fraud, a verdict he has bitterly criticized. He is expected to begin serving a reduced, one-year sentence in the middle of next month, most likely under house arrest or through community service.Mr. Berlusconi’s political future has been uncertain since August, when Italy’s highest court upheld a conviction against him for tax fraud, a verdict he has bitterly criticized. He is expected to begin serving a reduced, one-year sentence in the middle of next month, most likely under house arrest or through community service.
“I am not guilty,” he said in his message on Wednesday. “I am innocent. I am absolutely innocent.”“I am not guilty,” he said in his message on Wednesday. “I am innocent. I am absolutely innocent.”
The tax fraud conviction set in motion a chain of events that many analysts believe could end Mr. Berlusconi’s political career. The deliberations to expel him from the Senate are based on a 2012 law that bars anyone with such a conviction from holding public office for several years. His advocates have argued either that the law is unconstitutional or that it should not be applied because the tax case originated before it was enacted.The tax fraud conviction set in motion a chain of events that many analysts believe could end Mr. Berlusconi’s political career. The deliberations to expel him from the Senate are based on a 2012 law that bars anyone with such a conviction from holding public office for several years. His advocates have argued either that the law is unconstitutional or that it should not be applied because the tax case originated before it was enacted.
For years, Mr. Berlusconi maneuvered through Italy’s legal system, despite corruption cases and sex scandals and other problems. He has portrayed himself as a victim of a zealous, politically biased judiciary, but his critics have scoffed at such claims and say that now, finally, he can no longer manipulate the system.For years, Mr. Berlusconi maneuvered through Italy’s legal system, despite corruption cases and sex scandals and other problems. He has portrayed himself as a victim of a zealous, politically biased judiciary, but his critics have scoffed at such claims and say that now, finally, he can no longer manipulate the system.
“The political chickens of the last 20 years have come home to roost,” wrote Giovanni Orsina, the author of a new biography of Mr. Berlusconi, in Wednesday’s La Stampa, a leading Italian newspaper.“The political chickens of the last 20 years have come home to roost,” wrote Giovanni Orsina, the author of a new biography of Mr. Berlusconi, in Wednesday’s La Stampa, a leading Italian newspaper.
Guglielmo Epifani, secretary of the Democratic Party, Italy’s largest center-left movement, described Mr. Berlusconi’s speech as “disconcerting” and “irresponsible,” while warning that the attacks against the judiciary risked “aggravating problems, whereas we need cohesion and good government,” according to ANSA, an Italian news agency.Guglielmo Epifani, secretary of the Democratic Party, Italy’s largest center-left movement, described Mr. Berlusconi’s speech as “disconcerting” and “irresponsible,” while warning that the attacks against the judiciary risked “aggravating problems, whereas we need cohesion and good government,” according to ANSA, an Italian news agency.
Mr. Berlusconi does seem increasingly pushed against a wall. He must decide by Oct. 15 how he intends to serve his one-year sentence in the tax case; many analysts say they believe he will remain under house arrest at his lavish villa outside Milan, though it is unclear if he will be allowed to meet people and communicate with the outside world. It is also possible he may choose some form of community service.Mr. Berlusconi does seem increasingly pushed against a wall. He must decide by Oct. 15 how he intends to serve his one-year sentence in the tax case; many analysts say they believe he will remain under house arrest at his lavish villa outside Milan, though it is unclear if he will be allowed to meet people and communicate with the outside world. It is also possible he may choose some form of community service.
An appeals court in Milan is expected to decide in October how many years Mr. Berlusconi, 76, will be barred from holding or seeking public office, based on the tax conviction.An appeals court in Milan is expected to decide in October how many years Mr. Berlusconi, 76, will be barred from holding or seeking public office, based on the tax conviction.
Finally, Italy’s highest court ruled this week that Mr. Berlusconi’s holding company, Fininvest, must pay a business rival roughly $675 million in damages in connection with a corruption case from the 1990s.Finally, Italy’s highest court ruled this week that Mr. Berlusconi’s holding company, Fininvest, must pay a business rival roughly $675 million in damages in connection with a corruption case from the 1990s.
In a statement released Wednesday, Marina Berlusconi, his daughter, considered a possible political heir, sharply criticized the damages verdict as “a slap at justice, but also a shameful and cowardly slap at a great business group and to the thousands of good people who work for it.”In a statement released Wednesday, Marina Berlusconi, his daughter, considered a possible political heir, sharply criticized the damages verdict as “a slap at justice, but also a shameful and cowardly slap at a great business group and to the thousands of good people who work for it.”

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Rome, and Gaia Pianigiani from Castellina, Italy.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Rome, and Gaia Pianigiani from Castellina, Italy.